See Us, Know Us: Profiles Of Disability
What does it really mean to understand someone whose life experiences may be different from our own? Perhaps the answer begins with listening.
We often talk about disability in terms of statistics, diagnoses, accessibility requirements and the challenges people face. These conversations are important, but numbers alone cannot tell us what it feels like to navigate the world with a disability, to challenge assumptions, to find belonging or simply to want what we all want: to be seen, heard and understood.
That is the thinking behind See Us, Know Us: Profiles of Disability, a new book by educator, author and disability advocate Jennifer Chassman Browne. Published by Torchflame on October 6, 2026, the book brings together 30 personal stories that do something statistics cannot: invite us into the lives of real people and help us discover the connections that make us more human.
Thirty stories. Thirty lives. Countless opportunities to connect.
In See Us, Know Us, Jennifer introduces readers to 30 individuals with distinct experiences of disability. Some may already be familiar, including Charlie Carr, who helped secure the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Keith Jones, who appears in the Emmy Award-winning documentary The Ride Ahead.
Others are people whose names may be less widely recognised, but whose experiences and insights are every bit as meaningful.
Through honest, personal profiles, readers discover stories of resilience, identity, strength, belonging and the everyday realities of living with disability. These are not stories designed to inspire pity or reinforce stereotypes. Instead, they offer an opportunity to meet people as whole individuals, with personalities, ambitions, challenges, relationships and contributions that extend far beyond a disability label.
As Jennifer explains, hearing someone’s story encourages us to look for common ground, even when their circumstances are very different from our own.
And that is where meaningful understanding begins.
Beyond awareness: Building empathy and understanding
There is a difference between knowing about disability and understanding the people who live with it.
We can learn statistics about how many people have disabilities, read reports about accessibility and become familiar with the language of inclusion. But genuine empathy often develops when we listen to someone’s lived experience.
Jennifer believes storytelling can lower our defences and help us approach unfamiliar experiences with greater openness and compassion.
This is an important message in a world where disabled people are still too often defined by assumptions, overlooked in conversations and excluded by environments that were not designed with everyone in mind.
The book also includes original poems written by Jennifer in response to each participant’s story. These poems add an intimate, reflective dimension to the profiles, while striking black-and-white photography by Natalie Brescia brings further depth and humanity to the collection.
Together, the words and images create a portrait of a diverse community whose voices deserve to be heard.
What does being an ally really look like?
One of the most important messages of See Us, Know Us is that inclusion cannot rest solely on the shoulders of disabled people.
Creating a more accessible and inclusive society requires all of us to play a part.
Being an ally means more than expressing sympathy or offering supportive words. It means listening to disabled people, believing their experiences, challenging misconceptions and recognising the barriers that prevent people from participating fully in everyday life.
It means asking whether our schools, workplaces, public spaces and communities genuinely welcome everyone.
It also means understanding that accessibility is not a special favour or an optional extra. It is fundamental to equality, independence and belonging.
Jennifer’s work as a disability and DEI advocate focuses on helping people recognise the strengths and gifts of those living with disabilities, while encouraging the development of systems and structures that make access and inclusion possible.
Her message is clear: awareness is a starting point, but action is what creates change.
A personal commitment to changing perspectives
Jennifer’s commitment to disability advocacy is rooted in personal experience. Having lived with rheumatoid arthritis since the age of six, she understands many of the complexities of navigating life with a disability.
Alongside her experience as an educator, English teacher and school leader, she has dedicated much of her professional life to helping others understand the importance of empathy, representation and belonging.
She is also a certified listener poet, combining her passion for poetry and storytelling to create opportunities for connection and understanding.
It is this combination of lived experience, education and creativity that gives See Us, Know Us its distinctive perspective.
As Jennifer acknowledges, the 30 stories in the book represent only a small part of the many experiences still waiting to be shared. Her hope is that readers will be encouraged to seek out more stories, learn about disability access and inclusion, and become active allies in building a more accessible world.
Seeing the person, not the label
Perhaps the most powerful reminder offered by See Us, Know Us is that we have more in common than we sometimes realise.
Our lives may look different. Our bodies may work differently. We may encounter different barriers and navigate the world in different ways. But our desire for respect, connection, independence, opportunity and belonging is universal.
When we take the time to listen, we begin to see beyond labels. We recognise individual personalities, shared experiences and the many ways people contribute to the world around them.
And perhaps that is the real meaning of inclusion: not simply making space for people who are different from us, but recognising that they have always belonged.
See Us, Know Us: Profiles of Disability is an invitation to listen, learn and rethink what it means to be an ally. Most importantly, it reminds us that every person has a story worth hearing.
Because understanding begins when we stop making assumptions and start listening.
About the book
See Us, Know Us: Profiles of Disability
Author: Jennifer Chassman Browne
Publisher: Torchflame
Publication date: October 6, 2026
ISBN-13: 978-1611536461
Available from Amazon.
Find out more about Jennifer’s work at jenniferchassmanbrowne.com.
Dear Same Difference believes that understanding, respect and inclusion begin with recognising the person behind the label. This book is a timely reminder that listening to one another’s stories can help us build a world in which everyone feels seen, valued and included.
